Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Taps Tavern in Poultney recently became the 100th restaurant to join the Dinners with Love program. Dinners with Love is a nonprofit network of hospice agencies, restaurants, and volunteers who work together to bring food and comfort to hospice patients and their families. Local restaurants prepare and cook dinner free of charge, and volunteers deliver those meals to families at home.

Taps Tavern owner Serena Gallagher was inspired to join the program by a friend and neighbor she has known since childhood, Kathy Huntington. For her part, Huntington has been a volunteer for the Dinners with Love program at the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) in Rutland since earlier this year. Each week, she brings meals to families in and around Poultney.

“This can be a challenging area to get people involved,” said John Campbell, Volunteer Coordinator at VNAHSR. “Whenever a new restaurant or volunteer joins us, it’s pretty exciting.”

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced the start of the 2^nd Annual “Lawyers Fighting Hunger Food Drive,” a collaboration between the Office of the Attorney General, the Vermont Bar Association, and the Vermont Foodbank. The Lawyers Fighting Hunger Food Drive will run from September 10^th through 21^st. September is designated National Hunger Action Month by the Vermont Foodbank. Twenty-four Vermont law firms and offices have signed up in advance to participate in the event. The Lawyers Fighting Hunger Food Drive aims to raise awareness and fight hunger in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine An August 2018 article published in the national research journal Cityscape reports that Vermont’s groundbreaking “Support and Services at Home” (SASH) program for older adults and people with disabilities is slowing the growth of Medicare expenditures for emergency-room visits and specialist services.

Vermont Business Magazine As data breach incidents proliferate, a new AARP survey finds that that an alarming number of Vermont residents have failed to take the basic precautions against identity fraud. In response, AARP Vermont and the AARP Fraud Watch Network today launched a campaign to raise awareness of identity theft risks and educate consumers on how to enhance the safety of their personal information.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger, Attorney General TJ Donovan, Vermont State Police Colonel Matthew Birmingham, Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo, and representatives from the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office held a press conference at the Burlington Police Department to announce the formation of a City and State Task Force to investigate allegations of violent crimes at the St Joseph’s Orphanage.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Life Group Foundation granted $70,000 over two years to the Greater Burlington YMCA in support of their Staying in the Heart Capital Campaign and Early Childhood Program. The funds will be used to strengthen the Y’s capacity to provide for the families and children who use its services. This includes offering 50 additional infant/toddler spaces in the new Y facility, which is projected to open in early 2020. It will also help meet an increased demand for financial assistance to support at-risk children through the Y’s Early Childhood Program.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and members of his Administration will bring their “Capitol for a Day” initiative to Addison County on Tuesday, September 11. The group will begin the day honoring those who died on September 11, 2001 with the Addison County Firefighters’ Association (ACFA) Honor Guard. Following those events, the Administration will spend the day throughout Addison County, meeting with area constituents, lawmakers, local partners and state employees.

“It’s been great meeting with so many people throughout the state who don’t have an opportunity to travel to Montpelier,” said Governor Scott. “By bringing state government to different regions, we’re able to learn directly from the people about their challenges, and the opportunities they see. It’s so critical that we focus on helping all corners of the state, and that means getting out there and listening to and learning from those you don’t see every day.”

Vermont Business Magazine It’s a culinary treat and mainstay known to Caribbean, African, Asian cultures for centuries… and one that Vermonters are about to discover. It’s a sumptuous meat, rich in flavor, a great source of protein, lower in fat, sodium and cholesterol than most beef, pork, and poultry. “It’s chevon,” says Shirley Richardson, founder and CEO of Danville-based of goat meat purveyor Vermont Chevon. “Goats are the animal. Chevon is the meat,” she explains.

Shirley launched Vermont Chevon in 2011, helping supply the greater Boston area’s demand for chevon. While chevon is the most widely-consumed red meat worldwide, many Vermonters have yet to try it.

Shirley Richardson, founder and CEO of Danville-based of Vermont Chevon. Courtesy photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Since 2002, the Vermont Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame has recognized more than sixty athletes, pioneers and contributors who have made skiing or riding history in Vermont. Five new inductees will be celebrated at an Induction Ceremony presented by Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum on October 27, 2018 at Killington Grand Resort Hotel. They include Foster Chandler, Dennis Donahue, Hannah Kearney, Paul Johnston, and Janet and Brad Mead, each changed skiing and snowboarding in Vermont and beyond while maintaining Vermont's reputation as a breeding ground for athletes and industry pioneers. Peter Oliver will be presented with the Paul Robbins Journalism Award. The First Tracks Award will be presented to Kelly Brush Davisson. Killington Resort will be honored with a new Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Community Award.

by CB Hall, Vermont Business Magazine It is uncertain whether Amtrak will follow through on its threat to suspend passenger train service to Vermont on January 1, but it is certain that continuing that service would have a huge financial impact on the Green Mountain State.

Vermont Business Magazine Farmers, chefs, food producers and others working in Vermont agriculture are invited to apply to the third round of Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) Conference Scholarship Program grants. This round of funding supports participation in the Food Loves Tech expo, including access to all panel discussions and “The Future of the Cocktail” opening reception. The expo takes place November 2nd & 3rd in New York City.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University will host several thousand alumni and their guests during annual Homecoming festivities September 12 – 16 and kick off the “Year of Distinction,” the beginning of a year-long commemoration culminating in the 200^th birthday celebration in September 2019.